I enjoy the Valiant superhero universe (and some of my prior reviews of Valiant books are here) but I think because I read a lot
of superhero comics (and spend plenty of time in various superhero universes) I
find that the Valiant books that I gravitate to most are the ones that are a
little outside their “regular” universe (like Divinity and Brittania).
The new X-O Manowar squarely fits that bill. This is a fantastical,
classic science fiction story that is big and rousing and compelling. It also
requires zero knowledge regarding the Valiant universe. It's also one of the
best-looking comics I’ve seen in a while, thanks to the art from Tomas Giorello
and colors from Diego Rodriguez.

X-O
Manowar (Aric of Dacia) is sort of like a combination of the "Big 3"
of Marvel's Avengers. He's a man out of time (like Captain America) in that he
was a prince of Dacia (modern-day Romania) living under the rule of the late
Roman Empire, transported to the present day. He wears an adaptable, incredibly
powerful suit of armor (like Iron Man). And he is at his heart a warrior, and
the suit of armor chose him because on some level he was worthy (like Thor and
Mjolnir). He's emerged as one of the most powerful heroes of the Valiant
universe, both alone and as part of super-teams. Some of his people from
ancient Dacia also managed to make their way to the modern world (because time
travel and aliens). What's interesting about the new X-O Manowar is that it
does away with all of that. Aric is living on an alien world, older, more
grizzled, more damaged (he lost a hand at some point) and Earth is now just a
distant memory to him. He's made a home as a farmer, and he's found love again.
But all of that is put aside when Aric is conscripted into being cannon fodder
for a war between factions on this world. Most of this first issue concerns the
battle and the brutal assault of which Aric is a part.

I
really enjoyed this first issue. X-O Manowar has a great, old-fashioned epic
feel to it, and the work of Giorello and Rodriguez is essential to that epic
scope. Giorello has a retro style that reminds me of 70's scifi art (in their
wonderfully weird intricate detail), classic Conan the Barbarian comics (with
the muscular but not overly stylized characters), and the more recent work of
Jerome Opeña and Esad Ribic (for their great, intricate, detailed world
building, and fantastic sequential storytelling). Giorello has a great line in
this story, as everything on this world feels familiar but foreign. The
geography and background and even the home that Aric shares with his new
partner Schon, all feel fully realized.

Giorello's
character design is also first-rate. Aric looks like someone who was once a great
warrior; he still carries himself that way, even though he's missing a hand and
bears many scars from battle. Considering that every character but Aric in this
story is alien, Giorello also does excellent facial acting in this story (such
as in the below page), where he shows a multiplicity of emotions between two
characters who love each other and also hold to their principles in the midst
of a heated discussion. That devotion to strong acting and facial portrayal
continues throughout the issue, as we see the faces of fear and horror and
fatigue on the soldiers throughout the story, including the face of a craggy
old general whose face looks practically carved out of stone.

I
can't say enough about the great work that Rodriguez does on colors. Giorello
draws an intricate picture but Rodriguez really brings this book to life. He's
got a painted style of colors here that reminds me a little of the work of Dean
White. Everything in this book is lush and varied and rendered in great detail
while still leaving enough room for your mind to do some of the work. With many
planets and multiple suns in the sky, this feels alien, and the colors during
battle are bloody and bright and visceral. There's a softness to the color
palate that gives the book something of a timeless quality.

X-O
Manowar is the story of a man who just wants to be a farmer but is swept up
into battle. It's a story of an older warrior who's found love, but now he's
got to suit up for one last battle. Kindt creates a personality for Aric that I
found compelling; Aric remembers the principles he once espoused, but he pushes
them away now in order to simply live and try to find some measure of
happiness. Kindt's feel for the combat aspects of this story also feel alive
and real. I was reminded a little of Gladiator meets Saving Private Ryan as
Aric is pressed into battle along with a bunch of other conscripts under the
worst of circumstances and not only survives but thrives in battle; he was a
warrior, and those warrior instincts never leave, no matter how much Aric
wishes they weren't needed anymore.

I
haven't always been a huge fan of the character, so I was surprised just how
much I really enjoyed this book. I recommend you pick up X-O Manowar, I think
you'll enjoy it as well.